UNAIDS, Stop TB Partnership sign memo to work together to halve TB deaths by 2015

UNAIDS and the Stop TB Partnership on Tuesday launched an "initiative aimed at reducing HIV deaths caused by tuberculosis (TB) by half" by 2015, the U.N. News Centre reports (11/27). The memorandum of understanding signed by the groups states they will "take action ... to strategically address the intolerable burden of TB mortality borne by people living with HIV," according to a UNAIDS press release. "The two organizations are developing a detailed work plan and have committed to collaboration to achieve three main objectives within the next three years: increase political commitment and resource mobilization for TB/HIV; strengthen knowledge, capacity and engagement of civil society organizations, affected communities and the private sector; and help most-affected countries integrate TB/HIV services," the press release continues (11/27). "TB/HIV is a deadly combination. We can stop people from dying of HIV/TB co-infection through integration and simplification of HIV and TB services," UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe said, according to the U.N. News Centre (11/27).